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Control loading (or CL) is the commercial simulation industry’s term for “force feedback” or “Haptic feedback.” Essentially, it is a system that uses tactile pressure to communicate information back to the operator of a simulation system. Control loading is NOT about vibrations, bumps, or feeling the rattle of machine guns (although it can be used to simulate these). Rather CL is a way to bring the fundamental FEEL of hands on piloting into the world of simulation.

Non-Contact Variable Force Linear Actuator

Trim

One of the biggest issues found in all but the most expensive of simulation systems is the unrealistic implementation of “trim.” (If you aren’t familiar with what trim is, check it out here: http://www.pilotfriend.com/training/flight_training/fxd_wing/trim.htm).
In a real airplane, when a pilot needs to adjust attitude, they first apply pressure to the yoke until the aircraft's attitude changes. This requires the pilot to apply a constant force to the controls through their hand and fingers.
(If the pilot were to release the yoke at this point, it would spring back to its original resting position).
So the pilot doesn’t need to continuously hold pressure on the yoke, “trim” is used.
While the pilot is applying force to the yoke, trim is added or removed either by the other hand, or via an electric trim switch. As the trim position changes, so does the amount of force the pilot feels. The proper technique taught in flight school is to use trim to remove all the force from ones hand. Once the pilot no long senses pressure, they should be able to release the controls and have them remain static, with the aircraft now operating at the newly trimmed attitude.
Traditional consumer yokes are spring loaded so when no pressure is applied they spring back to “neutral”. The issue is that during the course of a regular flight the “neutral” position changes. Trim adjustments, weight and balance changes, speed, and aircraft configuration all effect the natural resting position of the yoke. When you use a traditional yoke which does not allow this “neutral” position to shift throughout various states of flight, an unacceptable level of realism is lost.

***Project Update*** Hardware Development Kit (Raw Actuator)

A lot of people have been asking if they could get their hands on JUST the actuator device (and not necessarily the yoke itself). After a bit of head scratching, we have added another reward level to the campaign: A hardware development kit! This kit is aimed at makers, designers, developers, hackers, and the like. A number of people have expressed interest in building floor mounted CL sticks and floor mounted yokes, along with some other pretty cool sounding robotic applications! The kit will consist of the actuator, the microcontroller (which you can pass serial commands to) and the sensor assembly. To save costs, equipment most developers don’t need or probably have lying around has been eliminated from the kit. The kit will NOT include the case, yoke handle, Pi (although you can still add your own), or PSU (any 400W or greater standard ATX computer power supply will do).

Roll Axis

Control loading on the Roll axis (ailerons) is provided for by a Nema 17 stepper motor which drives the shaft rotation through a very simple “locking ring” assembly. We have sourced standard sized US made commercial polyurethane belting as a linkage between the stepper and the locking ring.

Software integration, force feedback models, and the SDK

Because this yoke carries an
onboard computer (Raspberry Pi), your
main simulation computer does not need to perform force calculations. All that
is needed is to pass the appropriate Data References/Simulation Variables
(speed, attitude, etc) back to the yoke and the Pi will then perform all
necessary calculations. Manual changes to force models will be made directly on
the Pi via a web interface. Because the yoke will be a network-connected device,
updates to community force models or firmware can be downloaded and updated
directly via the same interface.

In the case of X-Plane, all the necessary data
references can be captured by the Pi directly through TCP/IP,
eliminating the
need for custom plugins. This also means that our software will function
the
same on Mac, PC, or Linux. In the case of Prepare3D and FSX, we will be using
SimConnect to access the necessary simulation variables. It is our hope
that
developers from other simulation communities such as Flight Gear, etc
will join our project and through the SDK
help us ensure greater compatibility with as many systems as possible.

To start yokes will be compatible
with:

X-Plane (Mac/PC/Linux)

Prepare3D

FSX

The SDK is written in C++ and allows editing of both the
force modeling and interface software on the Pi. The SDK also includes
the Arduino libraries which operate the power handling micro controller.
Backers will have access to all our executables, source code, and
internal documentation.

Specs: ***These specifications are still subject to change***

Dimensions:

Dimensions: Top

Dimensions: Front

Power: Power is supplied via a standard 400w 1U server power
supply. Power supplies will be CE certified and will operate on 100-240V
50/60Hz.

1U Server PSU

Yoke Handle:
We have not yet finalized design of the handle itself, however it will
be loosely modeled around the popular 737 style. All buttons and switches
will be fully programmable within the Pi, permitting for custom written
commands, or simply passing button pushes back to your simulation
software. Each side will come equipped with a hatswitch, a rear push
button, and a side push button. The yoke will also be provided with an
internal powered USB hub (PCB) with one external high amperage port
(located on the rear) should you wish to buy a tablet mount for charts,
plates, moving maps etc. At the moment, we intend yokes handles to be
solid cast resin to ensure a rigid feel.

Why we need your help

Force feedback yokes are specialty items and the development costs for
a new hardware product are substantial. Individually handmade units are
very expensive, and no large manufacturer will launch a new product
line unless they feel they can sell tens of thousands of units. We have a
design which is cost effective to produce in smaller quantities
(<1000 units); however, to make production possible, we need to be
able to bulk buy many components, along with produce tooling suitable
for production. Your backing of this campaign will give us the capital
to move forward as well as validate our belief that there IS demand for
this product.

Team

Patrick McFadden, Founder/CEO

Patrick has been a commercial flight instructor for the past 10 years. While serving as a chief flight instructor, he oversaw the training, and licensing of well over 100 Private, and Commercial students, both domestic and foreign. He has been designing and building commercial simulation and industrial automation systems since 2010, and has worked in the charter, bush, and aerial survey industries. He currently holds a Canadian Class 2 instructor rating, a Group 1 instrument rating, and a seaplane endorsement.

Chad Grice, General Manager

Chad brings 8 years of management experience in operations, logistics,
development, and sales. He has a background in design, layout,
and installation of industrial electrical control systems, and is an
active software developer. He has also been an operator and
manager in the long haul transport industry, and has extensive experience as a
sales and merchandising manager. Chad has specialized in business-to-business and end-user
sales for bulk electronics. He is well versed in instruction, training,
and program management as a head sailing instructor and manager of a
competitive racing program. He also holds a private pilot license.

Kyle Hagen, Hardware Developer

Kyle won his Private Pilot License on an Air Cadet scholarship in 2002. He then went on to fly a Grob with the RCAF while designing robotic hardware and navigation systems at Royal Military College. He worked as a software developer with Blizzard Entertainment while studying engineering. He is also an avid gamer and has been active in the sim community for many years.

Production Plan

We have gone through numerous coil, magnet, bearing, and electronic revisions to come to the point that we are today. We can now generate highly controllable forces with a design which can be put into production relatively easily. The following is a projected timeline along with pictures of some previous designs.

Risks and challenges

This is a hardware project. Moving from prototype to a shippable product will require time and resources. Delivery dates are at the mercy of unforeseen design, manufacturing, and regulatory issues. Delays on either our side or from suppliers/manufacturers would have a direct impact on when you receive your yoke. It is also possible that we could encounter issues sourcing some of our components. To mitigate this risk, where possible, we have chosen standard components where many alternatives exist.
This product relies heavily on tight tolerance components. If a batch of parts arrives which are out of design spec they may have to be made again, this would obviously have an effect on delivery time. To counter this issue, we will be producing parts in small locally produced batches so we can catch QA errors early before they become excessively expensive/time consuming.
While there is possible risk at every step of this project we are confident that we have the right team to reach our quality goals and deadlines.
We’re looking forward to your support and community feedback as together we finally bring high quality control loading into the consumer simulation market.

FAQ

Shipping costs for yokes will be charged a few weeks before your unit is ready to ship. At that time we will email you an exact quote (or make provisions for direct billing to your FedEX, UPS, DHL accounts.) Unit dimensions, and weights are still just approximations which makes giving an exact number now a little difficult. At the moment we are estimating units will weigh approximately 25 lbs/11kg.

Depending on order sizes it may be possible to ship all of our European/Asian orders via bulk pallet and then have the individual units dispatched via courier directly to you, so if we are wildly successful these numbers will likely decrease to major centers.

**Shipping for Hardware Development kit will be significantly less due to reductions in size and weight**

Support this project

Select this reward

Pledge CA$ 5 or more
About $5

***Thanks, Appreciation & Backer Updates*** Follow our updates throughout the campaign then receive updates (including backer only updates) after the campaign as we work towards delivery of our first batch of yokes!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 330 or more
About $315

***Hardware Development Kit (Raw Actuator)*** For designers, makers, and hackers! Receive a raw actuator assembly. Will include the Arduino Teensy 3.0, and the linear actuator system (with power and position tracking PCBs) Does NOT include the Raspberry Pi, case, yoke handle, or PSU. -Additional charge for shipping. Will charge actual shipping cost at time of shipment. Please see FAQ.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 550 or more
About $526

***Early Bird Special***
The first production batch yokes. Includes a removable Raspberry Pi model B and removable Arduino Teensy 3.0.
-Additional charge for shipping. Will charge actual shipping cost at time of shipment. Please see FAQ

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 600 or more
About $574

***Somewhat Early Bird Special***
The first production batch yokes. Includes a removable Raspberry Pi model B and removable Arduino Teensy 3.0.
-Additional charge for shipping. Will charge actual shipping cost at time of shipment. Please see FAQ

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 650 or more
About $621

***Somewhat Early Bird Special***
The first production batch yokes. Includes a removable Raspberry Pi model B and removable Arduino Teensy 3.0.
-Additional charge for shipping. Will charge actual shipping cost at time of shipment. Please see FAQ

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 770 or more
About $736

The first production batch yokes. Includes a removable Raspberry Pi model B and removable Arduino Teensy 3.0.
-Additional charge for shipping. Will charge actual shipping cost at time of shipment. Please see FAQ

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 2,500 or more
About $2,390

***Early Development Prototype + Production Unit***
We will be producing a small test batch of hand made units prior to manufacturing production devices. You will receive a VERY early prototype unit before the primary batch is built. Your feedback will be directly integrated into the production design. Once production units ship you'll get one too!

-Additional charge for shipping. Will charge actual shipping cost at time of shipment. Please see FAQ

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 5,250 or more
About $5,018

***Distributor 5 Pack*** You will receive the same rewards as the “Early Development Prototype” level (which includes an early prototype and a single production unit for yourself/demonstration) AND you will also receive 5 (five) additional production yokes (Individual value of $550) which can either be shipped en-mass to you (at our cost), placed into inventory for POST Kickstarter customers, OR Drop-Shipped to a location of your choice with an additional charge for shipping.
*Contact us for more details*

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge CA$ 7,500 or more
About $7,169

***Distributor 10 Pack*** You will receive the same rewards as the “Early Development Prototype” level (which includes an early prototype and a single production unit for yourself/demonstration) AND you will also receive 10 (ten) additional production yokes (Individual value of $500) which can either be shipped en-mass to you (at our cost), placed into inventory for POST Kickstarter customers, OR Drop-Shipped to a location of your choice with an additional charge for shipping.
*Contact us for more details*